Gyroscope



June 4, 1940. H LANGGSSER 2,202,955

GYROSGOPE Filed latch 8. 1938 INVENTOR BY JuMfw/am Patented June 4, 1940 PATENT oFFlcE l Y crnoscorn lHeinrich Langgsser, Berlin-Grunewald, Ger'- many, Maschinen assignor vto Siemens Gesellschaft mit beschrnkter Apparate und Haftung, Berlin, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application March 8, 1938, Serial N0. 194,671 In Germany April 5, 1937 10 Claims.

This invention relates to gyroscopes and more particularly to means for controlling the equilibrium of gyroscopes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel means for producing stable equilibrium in a gyroscope which are effective only when the gyroscope is at rest.

Another object of the invention is to provide novell means for controlling the equilibrium of a gyroscope wherein rotation of the gyroscope neutralizes the effect of the equilibrium control means. y

An additional object of the invention is to provide novel means for causingA a gyroscope at rest to beginoperation with the axis thereof in a predetermined direction.

Another, object of the invention is to provide novelmeans for causing a gyroscopic artificial horizon'to begin operation in a true horizontal plane.

The above and further objects and novel features of the inv ntion will more fully appear Ifrom the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration -only and is not intended to define the limits ofthe invention, reference being had for this latter purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of' the present invention; and,

' Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention.

The form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of example, is a device for controlling the equilibrium of a gyroscope in Cardan ring suspension. The equilibrium control device governs the position of the center of gravity of the combination of the gyroscope and said control device whereby stable equilibrium is produced when the rotor of the gyroscope is stationary and neutral equilibrium is produced when the rotor is in operation.- This is accomplished by axially shifting a weight member which is mounted upon the shaft of said rotor. When the rotor is'at rest the weight member is held adjacent an extremity of said shaft, but when said rotor is in operation centrifugal or inertia means shift said member to a point where neutral equilibrium is obtained.

In the form shown in Fig. l, a gyroscope rotor.

not shown, is mounted in housing 5 provided with the usual trunnions 6. Secured to the rotor and extending downwardly .and centrally through housing 5 is a shaft'l. Pivotally secured to shaft 'I is a pair of bifurcated arms 8, 8 which extend outwardly from the shaft in opposite directions and which carry at their outer ends weights 9. These weights in turn are linked by members I to a supplemental weight member II provided with a central bore through which loosely extends shaft 1. A coil spring I2 surrounds shaft 'I and bears, at its lower. end, against member II to normally retain the latter at its lowermost position and, if desired, a collar I3 secured to the lower end of shaft l may be provided to limit the downward movement of member II. v

In operation, centrifugal force is effective to move arms 8, 8 upwardly from the positions shown in Fig. 1 and member Il is carried along therewith, thereby compressing spring I2. This upward movement of the parts results in an upward shift of the center of gravity of the gyroscopic apparatus. By correctly selecting the f mass of weight II and the amount of axial displacement thereof, the center of gravity may be shifted to the point of axial intersection of shaft 1 and trunnions 6, 6 thus obtaining the desired neutral equilibrium. l

- In the form shown in Fig. 2, the gyroscope rotor (not shown) is mounted, as in the previous embodiment, in a housing 5 having trunnions 6. A downwardly extending rotor shaft I4 which extends through housing 5 is threaded and has in threaded engagement therewith anut I5 which is employed for a purpose analogous to that of weight II in the former embodiment. A spiral spring I2 as in Fig. 1 which surrounds shaft I4 bears against and normally retains said nut at the lower extremity of the shaft and,`if desired, a suitable collar I6 may be provided as a limit stop for the nut.

In operation, when shaft I4 begins to rotate the nut I5 tends by inertia to remain in its initial position. Consequently, screw action-willforce the nut upwardly against the pressure of the above-mentioned spring and the center of grav- -ity of the apparatus will be moved upwardly.

This movement is to a predetermined point such that the center of gravity is at the point of axial intersection of trunnions Ii, 6 and shaft Il.

There is thus provided a novel device for controlling the position of the center of gravity of a gyroscope. The control device is adapted for producing stable equilibrium and for causing the gyroscopic axis of rotation to seek a predetermined position when the gyroscope is at rest. The stable equilibrium of the combined apparatus, however, is automatically converted to neutral equilibrium when the gyroscope is in operation. The apparatus enables the gyroscope to begin operation with its axis of rotation, for example, in the true vertical and thus is particularly suitable for use with gyroscopic artificial horizons. The device is automatic in operation, simple in construction, and requires only a small amount of space.

Although two embodiments have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the form shown in Fig. 1, the center of gravity of the system may be shifted by the action of the weights 9, 9 alone. Various changes may also be made in the design and arrangement of parts illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference will be had to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a gyroscope having a rotatable element of means axially movable relative to said element in response to rotation of the latter whereby the center of gravity of said combination is shifted, means for moving said axially movable means, and means constituting yieldable means operable when said element is at'rest for placing said center of gravity in a predetermined position.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a gyroscope, a rotatable element for said gyroscope having a shaft, an axially shiftable member upon said shaft, means on said shaft and operatively connected to said member for shifting said member and yielding means for holding said member in a predetermined position when said shaft is at rest.

3. The combination with a gyroscope having a rotatable element of means movable along said element in response to rotation of the latter whereby the center of gravity of said combination is shifted, means for moving said movable means, and resilient means for replacing said first-named means in a predetermined position when said element ceases rotation.

4. The combination of a gyroscope having a rotatable element of means movable along said element from an initial position in response to r0- tation of the latter whereby the center of gravity of said combination is shifted to the point of axial intersection of said rotatable element and a horizontal shaft of the gyroscope mounting.A means for moving said movable means, and resilient means operable when said element ceases rotation for moving said rst-named means to said initial position.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a gyroscope having a rotatable element, means movable along said element in response to rotation of the latter, said means being movable, from a predetermined position relative to said element, means for moving said movable means, and resilient means operable when said element is at rest for urging said first-named means into said predetermined position.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a gyroscope having a rotatable element, means associated with said gyroscope whereby the center of gravity of the combination of said gyroscope and means is placed in a predetermined position, said means being adapted for axial movement relative to said element induced by centrifugal force whereby said center of gravity is shifted from said predetermined position, means for moving said movable means, and yieldable means urging the return of said rst-named means to said predetermined position when said centrifugal force ceases.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a gyroscope having a rotatable element, means associated with 'said gyroscope whereby the center of gravity of the combination of said gyroscope and means is placed in a predetermined position, said means adapted for movement relative to said element induced by inertia whereby said center of gravity is shifted, said movement being in response to rotation of said element, means for moving said movable means, and resilient means for urging said first-named means toward said predetermined position.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a gyroscope, a rotatable element of said gyroscope, a weight member axially shiftable relative to said element, and means operable by centrifugal force for shifting said weight member.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a gyroscope, a rotatable element of said gyroscope, a threaded portion of said element, a threaded nut portion adapted for threaded engagement with said element, and yielding means for holding said nut portion in a predetermined position relative to said element when said element is at rest, said nut portion being caused by inertia to be axially shifted relative to said element upon rotation of the latter.

10. In combination with a gyroscope mounted for stable equilibrium when at rest, of means for changing the center of gravity of said gyroscope whereby the equilibrium of the latter is rendered neutral, said means comprising a downwardly projecting and rotatable member, and means actuated and guided by said member for shifting the center of gravity of the gyroscope upwardly, said means being movable upwardly along the rotatable member, and means for moving said movable means.

HEINRICH LANGGSSER. 

